Today was Epiphany 4, and the Gospel reading was
John 2:13-22
The purpose of the Temple and of Churches is to be a house of prayer for all
nations (Mark 11:17). "But you have made it a cave of robbers".
1. HOW CHRIST PURGED HIS FATHER'S HOUSE-OF-PRAYER
A divine provision for worshippers was being abused and exploited.
a. His Enforcement of Scripture.
He made a whip of cords to drive out what caused the offence (Was this
prophetic of His own scourging?). He never drives people into the Kingdom -
and He certainly never casts enquirers out (John 6:37).
b. His Endorsement of Scripture.
The House of Prayer for the Nations is not to be a den of robbers (Mark 11:17,
quoting Isaiah 56:7 with Jeremiah 7:11). Zeal for His Father's House consumed
Him - set Him on fire for God, as David (Psalm 69:9). David wanted to build
the Temple but could not. Now David's Greater Son has suddenly come to His
Temple (Malachi 3:1-3).
2. HOW CHRIST PLEDGED HIS OWN HOUSE-OF-CLAY
Asked for a sign, He says "Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise
it again". He spoke of the Temple of His Body.
a. Sacrifices are now redundant.
His body was destroyed at Golgotha; but raised again the third day at Easter.
Thereby He made a sufficient sacrifice, a perfect oblation and a full
satisfaction for the sins of the whole world - without remainder. There are no
more sacrifices for sin.
b. The Temple is now redundant.
The Church is now the Body of Christ, built of living stones (1 Peter 2:5).
Our bodies are Temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20).
It was appropriate that the Temple and its cultus was swept away in AD70 after
the Great Sacrifice was made circa AD30. Now the Church is the House of Prayer
for All Nations (Gentiles too).
_______________________________________________________________________
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
